Automated dispensing of travel path applicants

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dispensing a travel path applicant. For example, a computing entity can monitor the location of a maintenance vehicle and/or its travel path to dispense travel path applicants accordingly.

BACKGROUND

Under certain conditions, maintenance vehicles are used to dispensesand, cinders, slag, bottom ash, liquid chemicals (e.g., magnesiumchloride, calcium chloride), salt, rock salt, salt brine, and/or toimprove travel conditions on roads, avenues, highways, streets, tollroads, ways, interstates, bridges, and/or freeways to improve travelconditions. A need exists to simplify the manner in which suchapplicants are dispensed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems,methods, apparatus, and computer program products for dispensing atravel path applicant.

In accordance with one aspect, a method for dispensing a travel pathapplicant is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises (1)collecting telematics data associated with a vehicle as the vehicletraverses a travel path in a geographic area; (2) determining, based atleast in part on the collected telematics data, whether the travel pathtraversed by the vehicle in the geographic area satisfies one or morethresholds; and (3) after determining that the travel path traversed bythe vehicle in the geographic area satisfies one or more thresholds,automatically adjusting the dispensing of a travel path applicant.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a computer program product fordispensing a travel path applicant is provided. The computer programproduct may comprise at least one computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code portions stored therein, thecomputer-readable program code portions comprising executable portionsconfigured to (1) collect telematics data associated with a vehicle asthe vehicle traverses a travel path in a geographic area; (2) determine,based at least in part on the collected telematics data, whether thetravel path traversed by the vehicle in the geographic area satisfiesone or more thresholds; and (3) after determining that the travel pathtraversed by the vehicle in the geographic area satisfies one or morethresholds, automatically adjust the dispensing of a travel pathapplicant.

In accordance with still another aspect, an apparatus comprising atleast one processor and at least one memory including computer programcode is provided. In one embodiment, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code may be configured to, with the processor, causethe apparatus to at least (1) collect telematics data associated with avehicle as the vehicle traverses a travel path in a geographic area; (2)determine, based at least in part on the collected telematics data,whether the travel path traversed by the vehicle in the geographic areasatisfies one or more thresholds; and (3) after determining that thetravel path traversed by the vehicle in the geographic area satisfiesone or more thresholds, automatically adjust the dispensing of a travelpath applicant.

In accordance with one aspect, a method for dispensing a travel pathapplicant is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises (1)monitoring the location of a vehicle to determine whether the vehiclehas entered a geo fenced area; and (2) after determining that thevehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically adjusting thedispensing of a travel path applicant.

In accordance with another another aspect, a computer program productfor dispensing a travel path applicant is provided. The computer programproduct may comprise at least one computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code portions stored therein, thecomputer-readable program code portions comprising executable portionsconfigured to (1) monitor the location of a vehicle to determine whetherthe vehicle has entered a geofenced area; and (2) after determining thatthe vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically adjust thedispensing of a travel path applicant.

In accordance with yet another aspect, an apparatus comprising at leastone processor and at least one memory including computer program code isprovided. In one embodiment, the at least one memory and the computerprogram code may be configured to, with the processor, cause theapparatus to at least (1) monitor the location of a vehicle to determinewhether the vehicle has entered a geofenced area; and (2) afterdetermining that the vehicle has entered the geofenced area,automatically adjust the dispensing of a travel path applicant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system that can be used to practice variousembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 includes a diagram of a data collection device that may be usedin association with certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a server in accordance with certain embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a portable device in accordance with certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-6 are flowcharts illustrating operations and processes that canbe used in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present invention now will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, theseinventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. The term “or” is used herein in both the alternativeand conjunctive sense, unless otherwise indicated. The terms“illustrative” and “exemplary” are used to be examples with noindication of quality level. Like numbers refer to like elementsthroughout.

I. METHODS, APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS

As should be appreciated, various embodiments may be implemented invarious ways, including as methods, apparatus, systems, or computerprogram products. Accordingly, various embodiments may take the form ofan entirely hardware embodiment or an embodiment in which a processor isprogrammed to perform certain steps. Furthermore, variousimplementations may take the form of a computer program product on acomputer-readable storage medium having computer-readable programinstructions embodied in the storage medium. Any suitablecomputer-readable storage medium may be utilized including hard disks,CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to block diagramsand flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus, systems, and computerprogram products. It should be understood that each block of the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, may be implementedin part by computer program instructions, e.g., as logical steps oroperations executing on a processor in a computing system. Thesecomputer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer, such as aspecial purpose computer or other programmable data processing apparatusto produce a specifically-configured machine, such that the instructionswhich execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus implement the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including computer-readableinstructions for implementing the functionality specified in theflowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also beloaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatusto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computeror other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implementedprocess such that the instructions that execute on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus provide operations for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport various combinations for performing the specified functions,combinations of operations for performing the specified functions, andprogram instructions for performing the specified functions. It shouldalso be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions oroperations, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

II. EXEMPLARY SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a system that can be used inconjunction with various embodiments of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 1, the system may include one or more maintenance vehicles 100,one or more portable devices 105, one or more servers 110, one or moreGlobal Positioning System (GPS) satellites 115, one or more locationsensors 120, one or more telematics sensors 125, one or more datacollection devices 130, one or more networks 135, and/or the like. Eachof the components of the system may be in electronic communication with,for example, one another over the same or different wireless or wirednetworks including, for example, a wired or wireless Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network(MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the like. Additionally, while FIG. 1illustrates certain system entities as separate, standalone entities,the various embodiments are not limited to this particular architecture.

a. Exemplary Vehicle

In various embodiments, a maintenance vehicle 100 may be equipped toprovide weather-related maintenance services, such as plowing snow orice and/or dispensing travel path applicants to melt (and/or prevent orlimit the accumulation of) snow or ice. To do so, maintenance vehicles100 may include one or more plows, spreaders, and/or chutes. A spreaderand/or chute may be able dispense travel path applicants in variousquantities (e.g., 50-900 pounds of travel path applicant per travel pathmile) and in various patterns (e.g., 5 feet to 90 feet). Plows,spreaders, and/or chutes may be controlled automatically (e.g., viacommunication with portable devices 105, servers 110, and/or datacollection devices 130) and/or manually by a driver. For example, thedriver may control the spreader and/or chute using a joy-stickcontroller, pistol-grip controller, touchpad controller, and/orslik-stik controller. A spreader and/or chute controller may also be inelectronic communication with various other computing entities (forautomatic control), including portable devices 105, servers 110, datacollection devices 130, and/or the like.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which provides a block diagram of anexemplary data collection device 130 of a maintenance vehicle 100. Inone embodiment, the data collection device 130 may include, beassociated with, or be in communication with one or more power sources220, one or more real-time clocks 215, one or more processors 200, oneor more memory modules 210 (e.g., removable and/or non-removable memory,volatile and/or non-volatile memory, and transitory and/ornon-transitory memory), one or more databases (not shown), one or moreprogrammable logic controllers (PLC) 225, a J-Bus protocol architecture,and one or more electronic control modules (ECM) 245. For example, theECM 245, which may be a scalable and subservient device to the datacollection device 130, may have data processing capability to decode andstore analog and digital inputs from vehicle systems and sensors. TheECM 245 may further have data processing capability to collect andprovide telematics data to the J-Bus (which may allow transmission tothe data collection device 130), and output standard vehicle diagnosticcodes when received from a vehicle's J-Bus-compatible on-boardcontrollers 240 and/or sensors.

In one embodiment, the data collection device 130 may include, beassociated with, or be in communication with one or more radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tags 250. In one embodiment, the one or more RFIDtags 250 may include active RFID tags, each of which may comprise atleast one of the following: (1) an internal clock; (2) a memory; (3) amicroprocessor; and (4) at least one input interface for connecting withsensors located in the vehicle 100 and/or the data collection device130. In another embodiment, the RFID tags 250 may be passive RFID tags.

In one embodiment, the data collection device 130 may include, beassociated with, or be in communication with one or morelocation-determining devices and/or one or more location sensors 120(e.g., Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors). The one ormore location sensors 120 may be compatible with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO)satellite system or a Department of Defense (DOD) satellite system.Alternatively, triangulation may be used in connection with a deviceassociated with a particular vehicle and/or the vehicle's driver andwith various communication points (e.g., cellular towers or Wi-Fi accesspoints) positioned at various locations throughout a geographic area tomonitor the location of the vehicle 100 and/or its driver. The one ormore location sensors 120 may be used to receive latitude, longitude,altitude, geocode, course, position, time, and/or speed data (e.g.,referred to as telematics data). The one or more location sensors 120may also communicate with the server 110, the data collection device130, and/or a similar network entity.

In one embodiment, the data collection device 130 may include, beassociated with, or be in communication with one or more vehicle sensors125. In one embodiment, the vehicle sensors 125 may include vehiclesensors, such as engine, gyroscope, fuel, odometer, hubometer, tire,location, weight, emissions, door, and speed sensors. Thus, the one ormore vehicle sensors 125 may collect speed data, traction data (e.g.,tire slippage), acceleration data, engine torque data, gyroscope data,emissions data, revolutions per minute (RPM) data, tire pressure data,oil pressure data, seat belt usage data, distance data, fuel data, idledata, and/or the like (e.g., referred to as telematics data). Thevehicle sensors 125 may also include environmental sensors, such as airquality sensors, temperature sensors, and/or the like. Thus, thetelematics data may also include carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides(NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), ozone (O₃), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and/orammonium (NH₄) data and/or meteorological data (e.g., referred to astelematics data).

In one embodiment, the data collection device 130 may include, beassociated with, or be in communication with one or more communicationports 230 for receiving data from various sensors (e.g., via a CAN-bus),one or more communication ports 205 for transmitting data, and one ormore data radios 235 for communication with a variety of communicationnetworks. Embodiments of the communication port 230 may include anInfrared Data Association (IrDA) communication port, a data radio,and/or a serial port. The communication port 230 may receiveinstructions for the data collection device 130. These instructions maybe specific to the vehicle 100 in which the data collection device 130is installed, specific to the geographical area in which the vehicle 100will be operated, and/or specific to the function the vehicle 100 serveswithin the fleet. In one embodiment, the data radio 235 may beconfigured to communicate with a wireless wide area network (WWAN),wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless personal area network(WPAN), or any combination thereof. For example, the data radio 235 maycommunicate via various wireless protocols, such as 802.11, generalpacket radio service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (WCDMA), Time Division-Synchronous CodeDivision Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra wideband (UWB), infrared (IR) protocols,Bluetooth protocols, wireless universal serial bus (USB) protocols,and/or any other wireless protocol. Via these communication standardsand protocols, the data collection device 130 can communicate withvarious other entities, such as the portable device 105 and/or theserver 110. As will be recognized, the data collection device 130 maytransmit the telematics data to the portable device 105 and/or theserver 110 via such communication methods.

b. Exemplary Server

FIG. 3 provides a schematic of a server 110 according to one embodimentof the present invention. In general, the term “server” may refer to,for example, any computer, computing device, mobile phone, desktop,notebook or laptop, distributed system, server, blade, gateway, switch,processing device, or combination of processing devices adapted toperform the functions described herein. As will be understood from thisfigure, in one embodiment, the server 110 may include a processor 305that communicates with other elements within the server 110 via a systeminterface or bus 361. The processor 305 may be embodied in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, the processor 305 may be embodied as one ormore processing elements, one or more microprocessors with accompanyingdigital signal processors, one or more processors without anaccompanying digital signal processors, one or more coprocessors, one ormore multi-core processors, one or more controllers, and/or variousother processing devices including integrated circuits such as, forexample, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a hardware accelerator, and/or the like.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processor 305 may be configured toexecute instructions stored in the device memory or otherwise accessibleto the processor 305. As such, whether configured by hardware orsoftware methods, or by a combination thereof, the processor 305 mayrepresent an entity capable of performing operations according toembodiments of the present invention when configured accordingly. Adisplay device/input device 364 for receiving and displaying data mayalso be included in or associated with the server 110. The displaydevice/input device 364 may be, for example, a keyboard or pointingdevice that is used in combination with a monitor. The server 110 mayfurther include transitory and non-transitory memory 363, which mayinclude both random access memory (RAM) 367 and read only memory (ROM)365. The server's ROM 365 may be used to store a basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) 326 containing the basic routines that help to transferinformation to the different elements within the server 110.

In addition, in one embodiment, the server 110 may include at least onestorage device 368, such as a hard disk drive, a CD drive, a DVD drive,and/or an optical disk drive for storing information on variouscomputer-readable media. The storage device(s) 368 and its associatedcomputer-readable media may provide nonvolatile storage. Thecomputer-readable media described above could be replaced by any othertype of computer-readable media, such as embedded or removablemultimedia memory cards (MMCs), secure digital (SD) memory cards, MemorySticks, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),flash memory, hard disk, and/or the like. Additionally, each of thesestorage devices 368 may be connected to the system bus 361 by anappropriate interface.

Furthermore, a number of executable instructions, applications, scripts,program modules, and/or the like may be stored by the various storagedevices 268 and/or within RAM 267. Such executable instructions,applications, scripts, program modules, and/or the like may include anoperating system 280 and various other modules 350, 360, 370. Asdiscussed in greater detail below, these modules may control certainaspects of the operation of the server 110 with the assistance of theprocessor 305 and operating system 380—although their functionality neednot be modularized. In addition to the program modules, the server 110may store and/or be in communication with one or more databases, such asdatabase 340.

Also located within and/or associated with the server 110, in oneembodiment, is a network interface 374 for interfacing with variouscomputing entities. This communication may be via the same or differentwired or wireless networks (or a combination of wired and wirelessnetworks), as discussed above. For instance, the communication may beexecuted using a wired data transmission protocol, such as fiberdistributed data interface (FDDI), digital subscriber line (DSL),Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay, data over cableservice interface specification (DOCSIS), and/or any other wiredtransmission protocol. Similarly, the server 110 may be configured tocommunicate via wireless external communication networks using any of avariety of protocols, such as 802.11, GPRS, UMTS, CDMA2000, WCDMA,TD-SCDMA, LTE, E-UTRAN, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, UWB, and/or any other wirelessprotocol.

It will be appreciated that one or more of the server's 110 componentsmay be located remotely from other server 110 components. Furthermore,one or more of the components may be combined and additional componentsperforming functions described herein may be included in the server 110.

c. Exemplary Portable Device

With respect to the portable device 105, FIG. 4 provides an illustrativeschematic representative of a portable device 105 that can be used inconjunction with the embodiments of the present invention (e.g., aportable device 105 carried by a driver of a maintenance vehicle 100).As shown in FIG. 4, the portable device 105 can include an antenna 412,a transmitter 404, a receiver 406, and a processing device 408, e.g., aprocessor, controller, and/or the like, that provides signals to andreceives signals from the transmitter 404 and receiver 406,respectively.

The signals provided to and received from the transmitter 404 and thereceiver 406, respectively, may include signaling information inaccordance with an air interface standard of applicable wireless (orwired) systems. In this regard, the portable device 105 may be capableof operating with one or more air interface standards, communicationprotocols, modulation types, and access types. More particularly, theportable device 105 may operate in accordance with any of a number ofsecond-generation (2G) communication protocols, third-generation (3G)communication protocols, and/or the like. Further, for example, theportable device 105 may operate in accordance with any of a number ofdifferent wireless networking techniques, such as GPRS, UMTS, CDMA2000,WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, LTE, E-UTRAN, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, UWB, and/or any otherwireless protocol. Via these communication standards and protocols, theportable device 105 can communicate with the server 110, data collectiondevices 130, and/or various other entities.

The portable device 105 may also comprise a user interface (that caninclude a display 416 coupled to a processing device 408) and/or a userinput interface (coupled to the processing device 408). The user inputinterface can comprise any of a number of devices allowing the portabledevice 105 to receive data, such as a keypad 418, a touch display (notshown), barcode reader (not shown), RFID tag reader (not shown), and/orother input device. In embodiments including a keypad 418, the keypad418 can include the conventional numeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *),and other keys used for operating the portable device 105 and mayinclude a full set of alphabetic keys or set of keys that may beactivated to provide a full set of alphanumeric keys. In addition toproviding input, the user input interface can be used, for example, toactivate and/or deactivate certain functions, such as screen saversand/or sleep modes. Although not shown, the portable device 105 may alsoinclude a battery, such as a vibrating battery pack, for powering thevarious circuits that are required to operate the portable device 105,as well as optionally providing mechanical vibration as a detectableoutput.

The portable device 105 can also include volatile memory 422 and/ornon-volatile memory 424, which can be embedded or may be removable. Forexample, the non-volatile memory may be embedded or removable MMCs, SDmemory cards, Memory Sticks, EEPROM, flash memory, hard disk, and/or thelike. The memory can store any of a number of pieces or amount ofinformation and data used by the portable device 105 to implement thefunctions of the portable device 105. The memory can also store content,such as computer program code for an application and/or other computerprograms.

The portable device 105 may also include a GPS module adapted toacquire, for example, latitude, longitude, altitude, geocode, course,speed, universal time (UTC), date, and/or telematics information/data.In one embodiment, the GPS module acquires data, sometimes known asephemeris data, by identifying the number of satellites in view and therelative positions of those satellites. In addition, data regarding, forexample, heading and estimated time of arrival (ETA) can also becaptured, which enhances the determination of the position of the GPSmodule.

III. EXEMPLARY SYSTEM OPERATION

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5-6. FIGS. 5-6 illustrate operationsand processes that can be performed for providing weather-relatedmaintenance services, such as dispensing travel path applicants, fortravel paths in geographic areas.

A. Geographic Areas

In one embodiment, maintenance vehicles 100 may be associated with,assigned to, or traverse one or more geographic areas. In oneembodiment, the geographic areas may correspond to countries, regions,states, counties, cities, towns, and/or the like. For example,geographic areas may be defined around the United States, the state ofGeorgia, Gwinnett County in the state of Georgia, and/or the like. Inone embodiment, the geographic areas may correspond to travel paths(e.g., roads, avenues, highways, streets, toll roads, ways, interstates,bridges, freeways, etc.). For example, a geographic area may be definedaround a public road (e.g., substantially around 1-285) or a portion ofa public road (e.g., exit and/or entrance ramps on 1-75 in Georgia orthroughout the U.S. and portions of 1-75 with a grade above 20%). Aswill be recognized, geographic areas may also correspond to private landareas, vehicle staging areas, parking lots (e.g., at malls or otherestablishments), driveways, and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a geographicarea may overlap or reside wholly within another geographic area.Geographic areas may, for example, be as large as an entire country,region, state, county, city, or town (or larger). According to variousembodiments, the geographic areas need not be continuous. In otherwords, a geographic area may specifically exclude an area that wouldotherwise fall within the geographic area (e.g., such that thegeographic area forms a donut or other shape around the excluded area).

The geographic areas may be defined based on any number and/orcombination of factors including, but not limited to, those describedabove. The foregoing examples are therefore provided for exemplarypurposes only and should not be taken in any way as limiting embodimentsof the present invention to the examples provided.

B. Weather-Related Maintenance Services for Travel Paths in GeographicAreas

As indicated, various weather-related maintenance services can beprovided for travel paths. The weather related maintenance services mayinclude maintenance vehicles 100 dispensing travel path applicants on,for example, snowy and/or icy travel paths. Such travel path applicantsmay be used to melt ice or snow, prevent the accumulation of ice orsnow, and/or improve traction for vehicles. To do so, travel pathapplicants may be in a variety of forms, such as sand, cinders, slag,bottom ash, liquid chemicals (e.g., magnesium chloride, calciumchloride), salt, rock salt, and/or salt brine. As will be recognized, avariety of travel path applicants can be used to adapt of various needsand circumstances.

In one embodiment, travel path applicants can be dispensed at a varietyof dispense rates. For example, illustrative dispense rates may bebetween 50 and 900 pounds of travel path applicant per travel path mile.Similarly, a variety of different dispense patterns can be used todispense travel path applicants on a travel path. For instance, travelpath applicants may be dispensed in various patterns ranging from, forexample, 5 feet to 90 feet. In various embodiments, by adjusting thedispense rates and the dispense patterns, waste of dispensed travelapplicants can be minimized.

As will be recognized, the dispense rate and/or dispense pattern oftravel path applicants dispensed may vary based on the characteristicsof the travel path (or parts of the travel path). For example, parts oftravel paths having one or more of the following characteristics maybenefit from increased dispensing of travel path applicants: bridges;school zones; intersections; high-traffic areas; curves or turns;high-accident areas; travel path grades above a certain percentage,degree, or grade; increased travel speeds; certain types of pavement(e.g., pervious concrete, asphalt); and/or the like. For instance,travel paths with grades above 20% may have a greater amount of travelpath applicants dispensed on the parts of the travel path that havegrades of 20% or above. As will be recognized, various othercharacteristics can be used to adapt to various needs and circumstances.

In one embodiment, a variety of different approaches can be used todispense travel path applicants.

C. Telematics-Based Dispensing

In one embodiment, telematics data may be used to dispense travel pathapplicants on a travel path. For example, a computing entity (e.g., thedata collection device 130, portable device 105, and/or server 110) maybe configured to collect and analyze telematics data. As indicated,telematics data may include latitude, longitude, altitude, geocode,course, position, time, speed, traction (e.g., tire slippage),acceleration, engine torque, gyroscope, emissions, RPM, tire pressure,oil pressure, seat belt usage, distance, fuel, idle, air quality,temperature, meteorological data, and/or the like. Using such telematicsdata, the maintenance vehicle 100 can be used to dispense travel pathapplicants under certain conditions.

i. Thresholds

In one embodiment, one or more thresholds can be defined to control thedispensing of travel path applicants. Further, each threshold may beassociated with a dispense rate and/or a dispense pattern. For example,three different speed thresholds may be defined: (1) less than or equalto 20 miles per hour; (2) above 20 miles per hours and less than orequal to 40 miles per hour; and (3) above 40 miles per hour. Each ofthese thresholds may be associated with a dispense rate and/or adispense pattern. For example, the first threshold ((1) less than orequal to 20 miles per hour) may be associated with a dispense rate of200 pounds of travel path applicant per travel path mile. Similarly, thesecond threshold ((2) above 20 miles per hours and less than or equal to40 miles per hour) may be associated with a dispense rate of 275 poundsof travel path applicant per travel path mile. And the third threshold((3) above 40 miles per hour) may be associated with a dispense rate of350 pounds of travel path applicant per travel path mile. Thus, when themaintenance vehicle 100 travels at the various speeds, the travel pathapplicant can be dispensed at the appropriate dispense rate (and/ordispense pattern).

As will be recognized, a variety of other thresholds can be defined andassociated with dispense rates and/or dispense patterns. Such thresholdsmay include engine torque thresholds: (1) less than or equal to 300pound-feet of torque and (2) above 300 pound-feet of torque. Additionalthresholds may include one or more traction thresholds (e.g., tireslippage), and/or one or more acceleration thresholds. Further, onegyroscope thresholds can used: (1) an inclination angle of a maintenancevehicle 100 less than or equal 20% with respect to the horizontal lineand (2) an inclination angle of a maintenance vehicle 100 above 20% withrespect to the horizontal line. This particular threshold can be used todispense travel path applicants based on the grade of the travel path.In one embodiment, each of these thresholds may be associated withdispense rates and/or dispense patterns.

In one embodiment, multiple thresholds can be defined to control thedispensing of a travel path applicant, such as shown below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 TRAVEL PATH GRADE SPEED 20% grade ≦ >20% grade   20 mph ≦ 200275 >20 mph and ≦40 mph 275 350 >40 mph 350 425

As will be recognized, various thresholds can be defined to adapt tovarious needs and circumstances. To determine whether such thresholdshave been satisfied, telematics data can collected and analyzedregularly, periodically, continuously, and/or in response to certaintriggers.

ii. Regular, Periodic, and/or Continuous Collection

In one embodiment, as indicated in Block 500 of FIG. 5, a computingentity (e.g., the data collection device 130, portable device 105,and/or server 110) may be configured to regularly, periodically, and/orcontinuously collect and analyze telematics data. For example, acomputing entity (e.g., the data collection device 130, portable device105, and/or server 110) can be configured to regularly, periodically,and/or continuously collect and analyze telematics data as a maintenancevehicle 100 travels in (e.g., traverses) a geographic area. Forinstance, telematics data can be collected and analyzed at certain timeintervals (such as every 2, 5, 15 seconds) and/or certain distanceintervals (such as every 1/10, ⅕, ½ mile).

iii. Triggered Collection

As indicated in Block 500 of FIG. 5, telematics data can be collectedand analyzed as maintenance vehicles 100 are operated in geographicareas, such as while maintenance vehicles 100 are traversing travelpaths and/or dispensing travel path applicants. To do so, in oneembodiment, a computing entity (e.g., a data collection device 130,portable device 105, and/or server 110) can be configured to collect andanalyze telematics data in response to (e.g., after) one or morepredefined triggers. Continuing with the above example, a computingentity can collect and analyze telematics data once the maintenancevehicle begins dispensing travel path applicants, for example. Thus,various triggers can be defined for telematics data collection andanalysis. Such trigger events may include, but are not limited to: (1)traveling above or below a certain speed; (2) traveling within ageofenced area; and/or (3) the like. Thus, in response to (e.g., after)one or more predefined trigger events, a computing entity (e.g., thedata collection device 130, portable device 105, and/or server 110) cancollect and analyze telematics data as a maintenance vehicle travels in(e.g., traverses) a geographic area

iv. Dispensing

After (e.g., in response to) telematics data is collected regularly,periodically, continuously, and/or in response to certain triggers, acomputing entity can analyze the telematics data to determine whetherone or more of the thresholds have been satisfied.

In one embodiment, in response to (e.g., after) a determination that oneor more thresholds have been satisfied (Block 505 of FIG. 5), acomputing entity (e.g., the data collection device 130, portable device105, or server 110) can automatically adjust the dispensing of thetravel path applicant (Block 510 of FIG. 5). For example, afterdetermining that the travel path grade is >20% and that the maintenancevehicle is travel 35 miles per hours, a computing entity (e.g., the datacollection device 130, portable device 105, or server 110) canautomatically adjust the dispensing of the travel path applicant to 350pounds of travel path applicant per travel path mile. In anotherembodiment, satisfying the one or more thresholds may be used toinitiate (or stop) the dispensing of travel path applicants.Additionally or alternatively, the computing entity can alsoautomatically adjust the dispense pattern of the travel path applicant.In still another embodiment, instead of (and/or in addition to)automatically adjusting the dispensing, the computing entity canindicate (e.g., visibly or audibly) to the driver of the maintenancevehicle 100 that he or she should adjust the dispensing of the travelpath applicant to the specified dispense rate and/or pattern. As will berecognized a variety of other approaches and techniques can be used toadapt to various needs and circumstances.

D. Geofence-Based Dispensing

In one embodiment, one or more geofences may be used to dispense travelpath applicants on a travel path.

i. Defined Geofences

Map vendors, such as Tele Atlas® and NAVTEQ®, provide digitized maps toa variety of clients for different purposes. For example, such companiesmay provide digitized maps to: (a) Internet websites for providingdriving directions to consumers; (b) cellular companies to include inphones and personal digital assistants; (c) government agencies (e.g.,the United States Department of Agriculture and Environmental ProtectionAgency) for use in their respective government functions; and (d)transportation and logistics companies. In one embodiment, entities thatdispense travel path applicants, can license, purchase, and/or usedigitized maps from vendors like Tele Atlas® and NAVTEQ®.

In one embodiment, using such digitized maps, a computing entity (e.g.,the data collection device 130, portable device 105, and/or server 110)may be used to define one or more geofences. The geofences may bedefined to surround countries, regions, states, counties, cities, towns,neighborhoods, off-road areas (e.g., areas without paved roads), privateland areas, parking lots, and/or the like. Further, one or moregeofences may be defined to surround travel paths (e.g., roads, avenues,highways, streets, toll roads, ways, interstates, freeways) or parts oftravel paths (e.g., such as bridges, school zones, intersections, exitand entrance ramps, grades above a certain percentage, high-trafficareas, high-accident areas, increased travel speed areas, travel pathswith certain types of pavement, and/or the like). The geofences may bedefined, for example, by the latitude and longitude coordinatesassociated with various points along the perimeter of the geographicarea. Alternatively, geofences may be defined based on latitude andlongitude coordinates of the center, as well as the radius, of thegeographic area. Geofences may be as large as an entire country, region,state, county, city, or town (or larger) or as small as an intersection(or smaller). The geographic areas, and therefore the geofences, may beany shape including, but not limited to, a circle, square, rectangle, anirregular shape, and/or the like. Moreover, the geofenced areas need notbe the same shape or size. Accordingly, any combination of shapes andsizes may be used in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

In one embodiment, once at least one geofence has been defined, thecoordinates (or similar methods for defining the geofenced areas) may bestored in a database associated with, for example, the data collectiondevice 130, portable device 105, and/or server 110. Thus, as themaintenance vehicle 100 enters and exits the one or more definedgeofences, a computing entity (the data collection device 130, portabledevice 105, and/or server 110) can monitor the location of themaintenance vehicle 100 and trigger/initiate certain events based on themaintenance vehicle's 100 location. For instance, entering and/orexiting a geofenced area may be used to adjust the dispense rate and/ordispense pattern of travel path applicants as the maintenance vehicletraverses a travel path within a geographic area. In one embodiment, todo so, each geofenced area may be associated with one or more dispenserates and/or one or more dispense patterns. For example, a geofencedefined around a bridge, intersection, or a part of a travel path with agrade above 20% may be associated with a dispense rate of 450 pounds oftravel path applicant per travel path mile. Whereas a geofence definedaround a straight part of a lightly-traveled travel path may beassociated with a dispense rate of 150 pounds of travel path applicantper travel path mile. Similarly, dispense patterns can be associatedwith each defined geofence.

ii. Dispensing

In one embodiment, after the one or more geofenced areas (e.g.,geofences) have been defined, the location of the maintenance vehicle100 can be monitored (Block 600 of FIG. 6) on a regular, periodic, orcontinuous basis. Generally, the location of the maintenance vehicle 100can be monitored by any of a variety of computing entities (e.g., thedata collection device 130, portable device 105, and/or server 110),including the data collection device 130, the portable device 105,and/or the server 110. For example, as noted above, the maintenancevehicle's 100 location at a particular time may be determined with theaid of location-determining devices, location sensors 120 (e.g., GNSSsensors), and/or other telemetry location services (e.g., cellularassisted GPS or real time location system or server technology usingreceived signal strength indicators from a Wi-Fi network). By using themaintenance vehicle's 100 location, a computing entity (data collectiondevice 130, portable device 105, or server 110) can determine, forexample, when the vehicle 100 enters a defined geofence (Block 605 ofFIG. 6).

In one embodiment, as indicated in Block 610 of FIG. 6, in response to(e.g., after) a determination that a maintenance vehicle 100 has entereda defined geofenced area, a computing entity (e.g., the data collectiondevice 130, portable device 105, or server 110) can automatically adjustthe dispensing of the travel path applicant. For example, upon enteringa geofenced area, such as a geofence defined around an intersectionassociated with a dispense rate of 450 pounds of travel path applicantper travel path mile, a computing entity can automatically adjust thedispense rate of the travel path applicant to 450 pounds per travel pathmile. In another embodiment, entering the geofence may be used toinitiate (or stop) the dispensing of a travel path applicant.Additionally or alternatively, the computing entity can alsoautomatically adjust the dispense pattern of the travel path applicant.In still another embodiment, instead of (and/or in addition to)automatically adjusting the dispensing, the computing entity canindicate (e.g., visibly or audibly) to the driver of the maintenancevehicle 100 that he or she should adjust the dispensing of the travelpath applicant to the specified dispense rate and/or pattern.

In one embodiment, after the maintenance vehicle 100 has entered thegeofenced area, the location of the vehicle 100 can continue to bemonitored (Block 615 of FIG. 6) by any of a variety of computingentities on a regular, periodic, or continuous basis. By using themaintenance vehicle's 100 location, a computing entity can determine,for example, when the maintenance vehicle 100 exits the definedgeofenced area (Block 620 of FIG. 6). As described, this may includeusing location-determining devices, location sensors 120 (e.g., GNSSsensors), or other telemetry location services (e.g., cellular assistedGPS or real time location system or server technology using receivedsignal strength indicators from a Wi-Fi network).

In one embodiment, as indicated in Block 625 of FIG. 6, in response to(e.g., after) a determination that a maintenance vehicle 100 has exitedthe defined geofenced area, a computing entity can automatically adjustthe dispensing of the travel path applicant. For example, upon enteringa geofenced area, such as a geofence defined around a straight part of alightly-traveled travel path associated with a dispense rate of 50pounds of travel path applicant per travel path mile, the computingentity can automatically adjust the dispense rate of the travel pathapplicant to 50 pounds per travel path mile. In another embodiment,exiting the geofence may be used to stop (or initiate) the dispensing oftravel path applicants altogether. Additionally or alternatively, thecomputing entity can also automatically adjust the dispense pattern ofthe travel path applicant. In still another embodiment, instead of(and/or in addition to) automatically adjusting the dispensing, thecomputing entity can indicate (e.g., visibly or audibly) to the driverof the maintenance vehicle 100 that he or she should adjust thedispensing of the travel path applicant to the specified dispense rateand/or pattern. As will be recognized a variety of approaches andtechniques can be used to adapt to various needs and circumstances.

IV. CONCLUSION

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseembodiments of the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the inventionare not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and thatmodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employedherein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation.

1. A method for dispensing a travel path applicant, the method comprising: electronically monitoring the location of a vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has entered a geofenced area; and after determining that the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically adjusting the dispensing of a travel path applicant.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: electronically monitoring the location of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and after determining that the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting a dispense rate of the travel path applicant.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the dispense rate of the travel path applicant is increased based on an increased grade of the travel path.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting the dispense pattern of the travel path applicant.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more thresholds is selected from the group consisting of (a) a grade of the travel path, (b) a curve of the travel path, and (b) a speed of the vehicle.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel path applicant is selected from the group consisting of sand, liquid chemicals, and salt.
 8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least: monitor the location of a vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has entered a geofenced area; and after determining that the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically adjust the dispensing of a travel path applicant.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to monitor the location of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and after determining that the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically adjust the dispensing of the travel path applicant.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting a dispense rate of the travel path applicant.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the dispense rate of the travel path applicant is increased based on an increased grade of the travel path.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting the dispense pattern of the travel path applicant.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more thresholds is selected from the group consisting of (a) a grade of the travel path, (b) a curve of the travel path, and (b) a speed of the vehicle.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the travel path applicant is selected from the group consisting of sand, liquid chemicals, and salt.
 15. A computer program product for dispensing a travel path applicant, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: an executable portion configured to monitor the location of a vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has entered a geofenced area; and an executable portion configured to after determining that the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically adjust the dispensing of a travel path applicant.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising: an executable portion configured to monitor the location of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and an executable portion configured to, after determining that the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically adjust the dispensing of the travel path applicant.
 17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting a dispense rate of the travel path applicant.
 18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the dispense rate of the travel path applicant is increased based on an increased grade of the travel path.
 19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein adjusting the dispensing of the travel path applicant comprises adjusting the dispense pattern of the travel path applicant.
 20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more thresholds is selected from the group consisting of (a) a grade of the travel path, (b) a curve of the travel path, and (b) a speed of the vehicle.
 21. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the travel path applicant is selected from the group consisting of sand, liquid chemicals, and salt. 